Mosquitoes as pesticide pollution Indicators: A comparative susceptibility analysis of field and laboratory strains of mosquitoes against different conventional insecticides

Abstract

Thrissur Kole wetlands fall under the category of temporary wetlands that are exceedingly ideal procreation environments for mosquitoes. A broad array of insecticides is used as a competitive weapon in mosquito restriction tactics, including organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids. Indiscriminate use of these chemicals could develop resistance in targeted and nontargeted species present in that environment. The present study is an assessment of the susceptibility status of laboratory and field strain Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes against deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and malathion employing the World Health Organization protocol. The results show that laboratory strain mosquitoes are more susceptible than the field-collected mosquitoes toward these insecticides. The field strain of Ae. albopictus showed 6.36, 11.74, and 18.36 times resistance than the laboratory strain against malathion, deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin, respectively. Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae also repeated this resistance pattern like 4.54 times resistance against malathion and 13.15 times and 12.62 times resistance against deltamethrin and lambdacyhalothrin, correspondingly. The increased susceptibility of the field strain could also lead to a prospect of treating mosquitoes as an indicator species of pesticide contamination. Finding out the precise dosage of insecticide applications could furthermore help in the vector management program and diminish environmental pollution caused by these chemicals.